Another live music venue has succumb to financial overwhelm, closing suddenly today as the leaseholders part ways with the business.
Lewisham Hotel Booking manager Jon Howell released a statement this week that the pub would close its doors on 2 December, and that unfortunately all existing bookings were cancelled.
Speaking to PubTIC, current licensee and general manager of the hotel Ben Christie is hopeful he and the freehold owner will secure a new operator for the lease in coming weeks.
“We’d like to get someone to take over that is interested in pushing it as a live music venue, and given the inner-west location, hopefully someone with experience in pub food,” said Christie.
“The pub definitely has a lot of potential in its current form. Obviously a new operator might want to do some work to the place, but it is essentially a classic pub format, with a big live music venue at the back, doing bands most nights a week.”
Located on Parramatta Road, the pub invested in extensive soundproofing a few years ago to counter some noise complaints, and holds 12 EGMs.
Christie says the food offering “needs a push” and that there is plenty of upside for the right management. He is confident a solution can be found to the current uncertainty.
“There are definitely people interested,” he disclosed, while unable to elaborate further.